Phytochemical investigation of the wood from Zanthoxylum quinduense Tul. allowed the isolation and identification of norchelerythrine, decarine, 6-acetonyldihydrochelerythrine, syringaresinol, evofilin C, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillic acid, a mixture of β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol and a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, and their esters derivatives. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques and comparison with literature data and the mixture of sterols and fatty acids were identified by GC/MS. The antifungal activity of the ethanolic extract, fractions and pure compounds against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici was determined by bioautography. Evofilin C and nochelerytrine were the only substances that present antifungal activity.

The genus Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae) comprises some 549 species worldwide distributed.1 Economically, it has appreciable importance as a source of edible fruits, raw material for cosmetics and perfume industries, and by their culinary applications.2-4 Many species of Zanthoxylum have applications in traditional medicine especially in America, Africa and Asia.2-7 The leaves, bark and root bark of Z. ailanthoides Sieb. & Zucc. have used as folk medicines in Taiwan and China to treat the common cold, stasis, contusions, snakebites and to stimulate blood circulation.5Z. rhoifolium Lam has been popularly used in South America for inflammatory, microbial, cancerous and malaria processes.4,6

Chemical studies carried out on Zanthoxylum species have revealed the occurrence of alkaloids, lignans, amides and coumarins, of which some show fungitoxic potencial.3-9 Extracts of some Zanthoxylum species shown significant antifungal activity. The bark methanol extract of Z. monophyllum showed significant activity against seven human pathogen fungi.10 The ethanolic extracts of leaves, fruits, steam bark and root of Z. americanum demonstrated a broad spectrum of antifungal and antibacterial activity against Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigates, Cryptococcus neoformans and Fusarium oxysporum.11

Z. quinduense Tul. [syn. Fagara quinduense (Tul.) Engl., F. macrosperma (Tul.) Engl., Z. macrospermum (Tul.)] is a tree that grows in South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru).12 In previous publication we reported the presence of four benzophenanthridine alkaloids and one triterpene in its bark.13 The chemical constituents and biological activities of its wood have never been studied. As a continuation of our studies on this species, the present communication report the isolation and identification of the benzophenanthridine alkaloids, lignans, phenylpropens, benzenoids, sterols and fatty acids from wood of Z. quinduense; as well as the results of antifungal activity evaluated for the crude ethanolic extract, fractions and of the pure compounds.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Chromatographic purification of the petroleum ether, dicloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions of the wood of Z. quinduense Tul. on silica gel column and preparative thin-layer chromatography (TLC) afforded known compounds: norchelerythrine (1), 6-acetonyldihydrochelerythrine (2), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3), vanillic acid (4), evofilin C (5), syringaresinol (6), decarine (7), mixture of sterols M1 [β-sitosterol (8), stigmasterol (9) and campesterol (10)] and a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, and their derived methyl esters M2. The compounds 1-7 were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques and comparison with the data described in the literature, and by comparison with authentic samples (TLC). The mixture of sterols M1 and fatty acids M2 were analyzed by GC/MS.

The compounds (1) and (7) gave positive to Dragendorff's reagent. Their 1H NMR spectrum present the typical signals for benzophenanthridine alkaloids: two signals in the aromatic region enough displaced to low field due to the proximity of the nitrogen, one singlet characteristic of the proton attached to C-6 [δH 9.74 (1H, s) to (1) and δH 9.63 (1H, s) to (7)] and another typical of the proton of the position C-4 [δH 8.72 (1H, s) to (1) and δH 8.66 (1H, s) to (7)]; singlet for a methylenedioxy group located on the positions C-2 and C-3 [δH 6.13 (2H, s) to (1) and δH 6.19 (2H, s) to (7)]. Also, the aromatic region of the 1H NMR spectrum exhibited two pairs of one-proton doublets [δH 8.35 (1H, d, J = 9.0 Hz, H-11), 8.34 (1H, d, J = 9.0 Hz, H-10), 7.84 (1H, d, J = 9.0 Hz, H-12) and 7.59 (1H, d, J = 9.0 Hz, H-9) to (1), and δH 8.49 (1H, d, J = 9.0 Hz, H-11), 8.45 (1H, d, J = 8.9 Hz, H-10), 7.95 (1H, d, J = 9.0 Hz, H-12) and 7.61 (1H, d, J = 8.9 Hz, H-9) to (7)]. The coupling pattern for the aromatic protons indicated the substituents groups to be at the C-7 and C-8 position, similar to the chelerythrine.14 The similar 1H and 13C NMR data for rings A-D of (1) and (7) showed them to have the same substitution pattern. The only difference between (1) and (7) was the presence of an additional methoxyl group for (1) instead of hydroxyl group in (7). The position of the substituents and all non- hydrogenated carbons of (1) and (7) were achieved with the aid of the HMBC spectra. By comparison of the 1H and 13C NMR data of these compounds with the reported data in the literature, the identity of the compounds (1) and (7) were established as norchelerythrine and decarine, respectively.14,15

The compound (2) presents a similar structure to norchelerythrine (1) and decarine (7). In contrast to (1) and (7), the 1H NMR spectrum showed typical aromatic signals for a benzophenathridine alkaloid with the chelerythrine substitution pattern (except signal characteristic of the proton attached to C-6) confirming that the compound is a dihydrochelerythrine substituted at C-6. The presence of an acetonyl group at C-6 was indicated by a singlet for a methyl group (δH 1.97) and the AMX system δH 2.25 (1H, dd, J = 15.0, 3.6 Hz), 2.61 (1H, dd, J = 15.0, 11.2 Hz) and 5.06 (1H, dd, J = 11.2, 3.6 Hz, H-6) due to H-6 and the acetonyl methylene protons in its 1H NMR spectrum and signals at δC 207.7 (C=O), 31.0 (COCH3) and 46.8 (-CH2CO) in the 13C NMR spectrum. On the basis of this evidence, their optical rotation value, [α]25D -135°(c 0.13, CHCl3), and literature data the alkaloid was identified as (-)-6-acetonyldihydrochelerithrine (2).16

The 1H NMR spectra of (5) show the characteristic pattern of 1,4-disubstituted benzenes with two first order doublets at δH 7.31 (2H, d, J = 8.7 Hz, H-2, H-6) and 6.86 (2H, d, J = 8.7 Hz, H-3, H-5). The chemical shifts of the aromatic protons indicate an oxy-substituent in the para-position to an alkyl group. The substituent can be identified as 3´,3´-dimethylallyloxyl group by the singlets for two methyl groups [δH 1.74 (3H, s, H-4´) and 1.80 (3H, s, H-5´)] and an olefinic group [δH 5.49 (1H, m, H-2´)], and the doublet for a methylene group [δH 4.50 (2H, d, J = 6.8 Hz, H-1')] in its 1H NMR spectrum and signals at δC 18.2 (CH3), 25.8 (CH3), 64.8 (OCH2), 119.6 (CH) and 138.3 (C) in the 13C NMR. The second substituent is a 3-hydroxy-1-propenyl moiety, with the typical pattern of an ABC system with resonances at δH 6.55 (1H, br d, J = 15.9 Hz, H-7), 6.23 (1H, dt, J = 15.9, 6.0 Hz, H-8), and 4.29 (2H, dd, J = 6.0, 1.0 Hz, H-9), for -CH=CH-CH2OH. The large olefinic coupling constant is characteristic of a trans configurated double bond. Compound (5) therefore, was identified as the already known evofilin-C.17

In the same way, the substances (3) and (4) were identified as derived of the benzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and vanillic acid, respectively. These compounds have been previously isolated in Z. zanthoxyloides18 and Z. schinifolium.19

(+)-Syringaresinol (6) was isolated as colorless oil from dichloromethane fraction. The 1H NMR spectrum of (6) present the typical signals for bicyclooctane lignans: signals for the 3,3-O-bicyclooctane moiety with eight aliphatic protons [δH 3.09 (2H, m, H-1, H-5), 3.91 (2H, m, H-4ax, H-8ax), 4.27 (2H, dd, J = 9.0, 6.4 Hz, H-4eq, H-8eq) and 4.72 (2H, d, J = 4.5 Hz, H-2, H-6)]. The coupling constants of H-2 and H-6 were 4.2 Hz and showed the relative configuration of H-1 and H-2, H-5 and H-6 to be trans-form.20 Also, the 1H NMR spectrum exhibited a signals for tetrasubstituted benzene moieties each one with two methoxyl groups [δH 3.88 (6H, s)] and one hydroxyl group at δH 5.57. The simplicity of the 1H NMR spectrum revealed (6) to be a symmetrical lignan. With the dextrorotatory optical rotation, [α]25D +41.6°(c 0.15, CHCl3), the structure of (6) was elucidated as (+)-syringaresinol, which was further confirmed by 13C NMR, DEPT, HMQC and HMBC spectra and by comparison of literature data.21

1 H and 13C NMR analysis for mixture M1 and the comparison with literature data showed the presence of β-sitosterol (8) and stigmasterol (9) in proportion of 10:1. However, the chromatogram of total ions of the analysis for it GC/MS showed three picks with retention times 49.7, 50.4 and 52.1 min and integrated area of 16.44, 4.55 and 79.02%, respectively. The comparison of the mass spectra corresponding to each pick, with the reported in the literature suggested that they correspond to stigmasterol (9), campesterol (10) and β-sitosterol (8), respectively.22

Among the metabolites presented in the study, this is the first report on the occurrence of vanillic acid (3), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4), evofilin C (5), decarine (7) and fatty acids in Z. quinduense. Other secondary metabolites have been previously reported in its wood and bark.13,23

All the classes of compounds reported in this work have been found in other species of Zanthoxylum (including Fagara). The sterols, fatty acids and benzenoids found are common in many plant families. The occurrence of evofilin C (5) and syringaresinol (6) has been described in a large number of rutaceous plants including Zanthoxylum genus. Benzophenanthridine alkaloids have great chemotaxonomic importance since they are widely distributed throughout the genus but not in the Rutaceae family.8,14

The antifungal activity was evaluated by means of direct bioautography in a TLC bioassay.24 The ethanolic extract and its fractions (petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and acetone) were inactive against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. The inhibitory activity against the growth of the fungi was appreciable at 25 μg for evofilin C (5) and at 50 μg for norchelerythrine (1), while the other compounds were ineffective.

EXPERIMENTAL

General procedures

Optical rotations were measured on a Schmidt-Haensch polarimeter. 1H and 13C NMR spectra as well as 2D spectra (COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) were recorded on a Bruker Avance 400 spectrometer operating at 400 MHz for 1H and 100 MHz for 13C using the solvent peaks as internal references. Silica gel (Merck, 230-400 mesh) was employed in the column chromatography separations, while silica gel 60 PF254 (Merck) was used for analytical (0.25 mm) and preparative TLC (1.0 mm). The visualization of the compounds was carried out with iodine vapors, UV light or Dragendorff's reagent.

The wood of Z. quinduense Tul. was collected from the town of Albán, Cundinamarca, Colombia, in August 2005. The plant sample was identified by Adolfo Jara of the Herbario Nacional Colombiano of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and a voucher specimen of Z. quinduense Tul. (COL-511101) was deposited at the Herbario Nacional Colombiano of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.

Approximately, 7 g of the EP fraction was fractioned by column chromatography on silica gel, eluted with a mixture of EP:AcOEt at increasing polarity (9:1 to 5:5), to yield 16 fractions. In the fraction 1 (552.9 mg) denominated M1, analyzed by GC and GC/MS, was determined the occurrence of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and their esters derivates. Fraction 8 (1.7 g), by successive washing with acetone, yield a white solid (440.9 mg) that correspond to a mixture M2 of sterols known as β-sitosterol (8), stigmasterol (9) and campesterol (10).

The supernatant from 8 was put together with fraction 9 and submitted to repeat column chromatography on silica gel, using C6H6:EtOAc (7:3) and C6H5CH3:EtOAc (7:3) as elution systems. Then, two benzophenanthridine alkaloids, norchelerythrine (1) (3.3 mg) and 6-acetonyldihydrochelerythrine (2) (4.0 mg), were obtained by preparative TLC on silica gel, eluted with CH2Cl2:MeOH:HCOOH (95:5:0.5) and C6H5CH3:EtOAc/HCOOH (95:5:0.5), respectively.

The antifungal activity of the crude plant extract, fractions and pure compounds against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici was determined using the bioautographic technique. The microorganism used in the antifungal assay has been maintained at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá (Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Vegetal Natural Products). Ten microliters of the solutions were prepared, in different concentrations, corresponding to 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 μg for pure compounds, and 300 μg for the crude extract or fractions. The samples were applied to TLC plates, only extract and fractions were eluted with CHCl3-MeOH (95:5) or n-hexane-EtOAc (8:2) followed by complete removal of the solvent at room temperature.

The chromatograms were then sprayed with a spore suspension of fungi in glucose and salt solution and incubated for 72 h in the darkness in a moistened chamber at 25 °C. Exposure of TLC plates to UV light (254 nm) and iodine vapours significantly enhanced contrast in order to detect inhibition zones, indicating the inhibitory activity against the growth of the fungi. Benomyl was used as positive control (1 μg), and the solvents used to dissolved the samples were the negative controls. 24

AKCNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank to Colciencias and to the Universidad Nacional de Colombia for financial support. Also thank to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory at Universidad Nacional de Colombia for recording of RMN spectra and to Colombian Herbario Nacional Colombiano of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia for plant identification.